Argyranthemum plant named ‘Supacre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘Supacre’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plants; freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per plant; anemone-type inflorescence form with light purple-colored ray florets and golden yellow-colored disc florets.

Botanical classification/cultivar denomination: Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar Supacre.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Supacre’.

The new Argyranthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the program is to create and develop new compact Argyranthemum cultivars with numerous inflorescences, interesting inflorescence form and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Argyranthemum originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in September, 2000, of the Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar Summer Melody, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,763, as the female, or seed, parent, with the Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar Sam, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Argyranthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in September, 2001. The selection of the new Argyranthemum was based on its attractive inflorescence form and ray floret coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia since September, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Argyranthemum has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Supacre’ and distinguish the new Argyranthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plants.     -   3. Freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per         plant.     -   4. Anemone inflorescence form with light purple-colored ray         florets and golden yellow-colored disc florets.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Summer Melody, primarily in inflorescence form as plants of the cultivar Summer Melody have double-type inflorescences. In addition, plants of the new Argyranthemum are taller than plants of the cultivar Summer Melody. Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Sam, in inflorescence form and ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar Sam have daisy-type inflorescences and primrose-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the cultivar Supacrest, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/862,858, primarily in floret coloration. In addition, plants of the new Argyranthemum are not as freely branching as plants of the cultivar Supacrest.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of the cultivar Cobsing, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,541. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Cobsing in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were taller than plants of         the cultivar Cobsing.     -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum and the cultivar Cobsing         differed in inflorescence form as plants of the cultivar Cobsing         had daisy-type inflorescences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Supacre’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Supacre’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and averaged measurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoor nursery under full sunlight during the winter and spring with day temperatures ranging from 15 to 24° C. and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 19° C. Plants were grown in one-gallon containers with two plants per container. Plants were pinched one time about five weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for about 16 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar Supacre. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar             Summer Melody, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,763.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar             Sam, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About three weeks at 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting description.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Inverted triangle; compact, upright and             mounded plant form with dense foliage and inflorescences             held above and beyond the foliage. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.         -   Plant width, single plant.—About 29 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About seven             primary lateral branches; each with about four to five             secondary lateral branches. Length: About 24 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Aspect: Upright to             outwardly spreading. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 3.8 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Pinnatifid, deeply             and finely dissected. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; deeply and finely dissected; sinuses parallel.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Petiole length: About 1.2 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface:             137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and             lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces:             147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Anemone-type inflorescence form with ligulate             ray florets. Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum. Inflorescences held upright and outwardly on             terminal and axillary peduncles. Inflorescences positioned             perpendicular to the peduncles. Inflorescences persistent.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             from spring to early fall in Southern California; plants             flower continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about ten days             on the plant.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about 14 open             inflorescences per lateral branch.         -   Fragrance.—Sour.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.5 cm. Receptacle             height: About 7 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds, at stage of showing color.—Height: About             1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 155B tinted             slightly with 75D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 25 arranged             in one or two whorls. Shape: Ligulate. Length: About 2.1 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, satiny.             Aspect: Initially upright; when mature, horizontal to             slightly upright. Color: When opening, upper surface: 155D             overlain the 75B. When opening, lower surface: 155D. Fully             opened, upper surface: 75B to 75C; towards the base, 155D;             color becoming close to 75C to 75D with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: 75D; towards the base, 69A.         -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity per inflorescence: About 170. Shape:             Tubular, enlarged; apex, five-pointed; base, fused. Length:             About 7 mm. Diameter, apex: About 1.5 mm. Diameter, base:             Less than 1 mm. Color: Apex: 12A; color becoming closer to             12D with development. Mid-section: 145C. Base: 145D.         -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries).—Appearance: Scale-like;             margins, papery. Quantity per inflorescence: About 30.             Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong; wiry. Aspect: Upright             to about 45° from vertical. Length, terminal inflorescence:             About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: Five. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 17A. Amount of             pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on ray             and disc florets. Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length:             About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: 12A.             Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color:             157B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Argyranthemums has not been observed on plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature/weather tolerance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have     been observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and to temperatures from     −1 to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘Supacre’, as illustrated and described. 